In Our Own Words

Paola Zavala Chairez: Raised in the States

Published on
November 14, 2022
As told by
Paola Zavala Chairez
"I consider myself to be an American, but just don't have the documents to prove it."

Paola is from Mexico and moved to the US in 1986 when she was five years old. Paola explains, "I consider myself to be an American, but just don't have the documents to prove it." Paola has been fighting in immigration court since 2019 for the right to remain here with her family. With legal support from PLAN and the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, she received conditional approval for permanent residence and is now just waiting to receive it. With residency, Paola hopes to be able to go back to school, afford a car and a nice place for her and her four children, and to save up enough to help her kids go to college.

We appreciate Paola sharing her story with us, watch it below.

Paola's picture




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